Launch of double burden map reveals true scale of global malnutrition

With half of the world’s population facing malnutrition in some form, it’s a global challenge that isn’t going to go away and it’s one that doesn’t discriminate based on wealth and income. According to the 2014 global nutrition report, almost every country in the world is dealing with malnutrition whether that is undernutrition or at the other end of the spectrum, obesity.

While undernutrition is a continual struggle in many developing countries, many people may not realise that it also is a real problem within the developed world.

In Guatemala, 48% of children are stunted, while 54% of adults are overweight. Even in the US, multiple burdens are present: While 69% of adults are overweight, 12% of women of reproductive age suffer from anemia.

The double burden map, developed by us here at GAIN with funding from Amway is a unique online tool revealing the global burden of malnutrition in all its forms. It includes data from more than 30 countries representing low, middle and high incomes and provides an easy path to country-by-country statistics and insights on nutritional challenges.

The map brings together data from many different sources such as the Global Nutrition Report, the World Health Organisation and the International Diabetes Federation. The map is a technical tool that allows the user to look at different indicators according to their interest, research, policy or programmatic focus.

“This double burden of malnutrition is a serious global challenge and one that we can’t meet unless we have strong data. We need to build a clearer picture of where people are and what their nutritional status is in order to effectively target interventions,” said Dominic Schofield, Director and Senior Technical Advisor here at GAIN.

“The goal of this project is to raise awareness of malnutrition in all its forms so that political, health and business leaders can discuss, develop and ultimately implement solutions.”

Please take a look at the new digital map here. Have any questions on the mapping tool? Please comment below.